Nectarine bush -stem and pit with sugar crystals no fruit - Ask Extension
Hi Experts, I live in Washoe County in midtown. I have two nectarine trees in my yard about 20 ft apart. One was planted too low and it looks more lik...
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Nectarine bush -stem and pit with sugar crystals no fruit #590489
Asked August 19, 2019, 9:01 PM EDT
Hi Experts,
I live in Washoe County in midtown. I have two nectarine trees in my yard about 20 ft apart. One was planted too low and it looks more like a bush. The nectarine bush's fruits are ripe, while the nectarines on the tree remains hard and unripened. The fruit on the nectarine bush varies from a proper nectarine with little sun burn or brown flesh to only a pit with crystals on it attached to the stem. Can you tell me what this issue is and how to avoid it in the future. Is it okay to eat the fruit that looks normal or just has a brown patch? Will this issue effect the other tree's fruit as well? Thanks Val
I live in Washoe County in midtown. I have two nectarine trees in my yard about 20 ft apart. One was planted too low and it looks more like a bush. The nectarine bush's fruits are ripe, while the nectarines on the tree remains hard and unripened. The fruit on the nectarine bush varies from a proper nectarine with little sun burn or brown flesh to only a pit with crystals on it attached to the stem. Can you tell me what this issue is and how to avoid it in the future. Is it okay to eat the fruit that looks normal or just has a brown patch? Will this issue effect the other tree's fruit as well? Thanks Val
Washoe County Nevada
Expert Response
From your photos, it is possible you have several things going on.
I believe you are mainly dealing with insect damage and then the tree oozing out sugars. Both western flower thrips and stinkbugs are major problems of Nectarines as they feed on the fruit. Their mouthparts are link needles and pierce the tissue cucking out nutrients and sugars. Stone fruits like nectarines will ooze out sugars/sap in defence of insect attacks on fruit and on stem and trunk tissue. This year was a very good year for insects and we did have a mass hatch and mini migration in various areas of two different stink bugs. It may be the case that you are experiencing heavy damage this year because of the weather and high numbers of piercing insect and next year you may see minimal damage without treatments.
I have attached several fact sheets to help you understand the insects and decide what action if any you would like to take.
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23145
http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/western-flower-thrips/
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r540300111.html
http://www.treefruit.msu.edu/extension/BMSBMngtGuideTreeFruit2016.pdf
I believe you are mainly dealing with insect damage and then the tree oozing out sugars. Both western flower thrips and stinkbugs are major problems of Nectarines as they feed on the fruit. Their mouthparts are link needles and pierce the tissue cucking out nutrients and sugars. Stone fruits like nectarines will ooze out sugars/sap in defence of insect attacks on fruit and on stem and trunk tissue. This year was a very good year for insects and we did have a mass hatch and mini migration in various areas of two different stink bugs. It may be the case that you are experiencing heavy damage this year because of the weather and high numbers of piercing insect and next year you may see minimal damage without treatments.
I have attached several fact sheets to help you understand the insects and decide what action if any you would like to take.
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=23145
http://treefruit.wsu.edu/crop-protection/opm/western-flower-thrips/
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/r540300111.html
http://www.treefruit.msu.edu/extension/BMSBMngtGuideTreeFruit2016.pdf
